Cashmere production and fleece attributes associated with farm of origin, age and sex of goat in Australia
B. A. McGregor A C D and K. L. Butler BA Livestock Systems, Future Farming Systems, Department of Primary Industries, Attwood, Vic. 3049, Australia.
B Biometrics Group, Future Farming Systems, Department of Primary Industries, Werribee, Vic. 3030, Australia.
C Present address: 103 Mitchell Street, Brunswick, Vic. 3056, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: bmcgregor@sub.net.au
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48(8) 1090-1098 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA06308
Submitted: 23 November 2006 Accepted: 18 October 2007 Published: 14 July 2008
Abstract
Differences in cashmere production and fleece attributes associated with farm of origin, age and sex were quantified for commercial Australian cashmere goat enterprises. From 11 farms in four states, 1147 does and 97 wethers were monitored, representing 1- to 13-year-old goats. Individual clean cashmere production ranged from 21 to 389 g, with a mean ± standard deviation value of 134 ± 62 g. The mean cashmere production of 2-year-old does from different farms varied from 69 to 225 g and averaged 141 g. Mean ± s.d. greasy fleece weight was 394 ± 123 g, clean washing yield was 90.8 ± 4.1%, clean cashmere yield 33.4 ± 9.4%, cashmere fibre diameter 16.4 ± 1.6 µm, fibre curvature 48 ± 8.7 degrees/mm and staple length 8.7 ± 2.1 cm. There were large, commercially significant differences between farms for clean cashmere weight, mean fibre diameter and other attributes of cashmere. These were much larger than the effects of age and sex. Farm and age accounted for 42 to 67% of the variation in clean cashmere production, mean fibre diameter, fibre curvature, staple length and clean washing yield. Farm of origin affected clean cashmere yield, accounting for 24% of the variation. Sex of the goats had only a minor effect on the staple length of cashmere. The responses to age of clean cashmere weight, mean fibre diameter and the inverse of fibre curvature are very similar. Generally, cashmere production and mean fibre diameter increased with age. For the majority of farms, cashmere fibre curvature declined in a curvilinear manner with increases in age of goat. There were large differences in cashmere staple length from different farms, with means ranging from 7 to 12 cm. Between 1 and 2 years of age, the staple length of cashmere demonstrated a constant proportional increase. At ages older than 2 years, staple length either declined or increased by less than 1 cm with age, depending on the farm of origin. This study demonstrates that there are large gains in productivity that can be achieved from Australian cashmere goats. A better understanding of on-farm factors that influence cashmere production would enable all producers to optimise their production systems.
Acknowledgements
We are indebted to the cashmere producers who participated in this project. The Australian Cashmere Growers Association (ACGA) provided great assistance. In particular, Mike Nixon, Peter Muirhead, Helen Simmonds, Walter Aich, Noel Waters and Andrew James participated in the Advisory Committee. Tim Johnson from Agriculture Western Australia assisted with on-farm measurements. Mrs Val Park and her staff at Riverina Fleece Testing Services, Albury and Mark Brims (BSC Electronics Perth) are thanked for fleece testing services. The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation part funded this project.
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